Distance - 69 mi.
Average Speed - 9.7 mph
Climbed - 4520 ft.
Weather - 55 to 75 F, Cloudy all day, Rain through middle of day, light winds
We had a great night's sleep on the floor of the church meeting room after using their kitchen to make a nice dinner. We're travelling with plenty of food and a full cooler, so there's no danger of us going hungry. We get up and eat breakfast at 6 am, and I'm typically on the road by 7:30, when it's just light enough to be seen.
Right out of the gate this morning the route went over a mountain that was exactly a 1,000 ft climb, and it took me an hour to reach the summit. It was pastureland at first and then woods most of the way up. Only two cars came by, so it was a tranquil experience, and a very nice way to start the day. I got the brunt of the climbing done early, then followed a shortcut ( to avoid some climbs ) on old U.S. Hwy 11, also known as Lee Hwy through a series of small towns. One of them had a parade this Saturday morning that was just wrapping up, with riders all dressed up leading their horses back to the trailers. We stopped there to eat at a lunch counter and had to answer lots of questions about why I'd be riding in the rain, and how this bike touring thing works.
A stately old Virginia Farmhouse
Some fall colors are starting to show up.
Great vistas everywhere you look.
Our destination today, after some route modifications, is this city named after one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, George Wythe.
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